It’s safe to say that the Philadelphia Eagles trying to build some sort of expensive super-team these past couple of seasons failed; part of it was Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, their two feature cornerbacks, not really living up to the hype, leaving the Eagles with some tough and expensive decisions to make about the two.
Cromartie is actually hitting free agency, and is going to be expensive to keep. Despite his shortcomings, his pluses of size and speed will certainly give him a big contract for the next few years, turning 27 in a couple of months. Asomugha is a bigger problem, and probably a much bigger disappointment after coming in as one of the best cover corners in the NFL.
Asomugha, if kept on the roster, will cost the Eagles $15 million, with $4 of them guaranteed. Unlike Cromartie, Asomugha isn’t exactly a kid, turning 32 in July, with nine NFL seasons behind him. His All-Pro form that got him the huge deal with the Eagles (five-year, $60 million deal, and at least $25 million guaranteed) seems to be gone instead.
One option is too simply cut their losses and let both of them go, starting over fresh. However, the team does have a new defensive coordinator (Billy Davis), which means that possibly a change in the schemes or simply get someone else to review their abilities and attitudes is all the change they need.
Considering other options available in the market, the Eagles might go for the top cornerback in the draft, Dee Milliner coming out of Alabama, who seems to be a level above the rest of the competition in the 2013 Draft, with a combination of size and speed that might be too good to pass up. If the free agent market is where the Eagles will try to improve, assuming they don’t franchise Cromartie (which will cost them over $10 million) and cut Asomugha, Aqib Talib of the Patriots and Miami’s Sean Smith will be names that the Eagles might try and sign.